Producer Pahlaj Nihalani has criticized Ektaa Kapoor, accusing her saas-bahu serials of damaging Indian culture. Celebrating 30 years in the television industry, Ektaa Kapoor is known for iconic shows such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii. However, many of her serials have faced criticism for allegedly undermining family values and portraying women with limited agency. In an interview with the Learn From The Legend YouTube channel, Nihalani expressed concerns about the cultural impact of her television content.
During the discussion on the evolving tastes of Hindi cinema audiences, Nihalani highlighted how traditional cultural elements remain influential in films like RRR and Kalki 2898 AD, which draw inspiration from epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Despite this, he condemned certain portrayals in contemporary serials, specifically pointing out Ektaa Kapoor’s depiction of women marrying multiple times, which he believes contributes to the erosion of cultural norms. He also noted the increasing presence of erotic content in media, contrasting it with earlier times when such themes were less common.
In addition to television, Ektaa Kapoor has made significant inroads into Bollywood through her production company, Balaji Telefilms. She has produced several notable films, including The Dirty Picture, Raagini MMS, Veere Di Wedding, and Dream Girl. More recently, she supported the reality show Lock Upp on ALTBalaji, which featured Kangana Ranaut as the host.
